Oh Will Smith, why must we remain in a constant state of star-crossed....ness? Each time we try to work it out it ends in failure-me being moderately underwhelmed and you getting right back up and trying again...only to miss another mark. Here's the deal, I like Will Smith-he seems intelligent, talented, and hard working- but I am constantly let down by the movies he is in. I think it's because after Ali (which everyone said was amazing, but I thought was "aight") he's been trying to maintain this serious big screen actor rep he's got going. He kept up that momentum with The Pursuit of Happyiness, which I really wanted to like, but in my heart of hearts only tolerated. I respect his valient effort at a return to the good 'ole Will from the MIB days with I, Robot, but I have to say it paled in comparison. Then there was I Am Legend and Hancock,which were both actually pretty good at first (the former much more so than the latter), but both had weird and abrupt endings that killed them for me.
Alas, this brings me to my final experience with this twisted, deja vu cycle of me yelling out "Damn you, Will. You got me again!"- Seven Pounds. I actually heard a lot of good things about this movie, and I do think that Smith did a very good job, but the movie didn't really unfold until the last 20 minutes, leaving the audience bored and confused for the vast majority. It was moving, and it certainly wasn't a total waste of a Monday night, but when it all comes down to it, it was just short of being good. Minute details, like so many of Will Smith's dramatic films, were the Achilles heel of this one.
And one would think I would just accept this as true and move on from my undying optimism for Will Smith movies, but I just can't seem to do it. Like a sordid love affair, a drug addiction, or reese's cups, I just can't stop! Maybe it's because I think he's a good actor and a nice guy, maybe it's because each movie just barely misses the mark in the most devastating way, but I want Will Smith to be for me what he is for so many others: a high profile, consistent block buster star who always delivers. I heard that the last 5 movies (+/-) he's been in went to number one, so he definitely brings attention to movies, but I think he (or his manager, or whoever) is just picking bad ones. It's like they think the American public wants loud noises and sob stories, but other details are irrelevent. And, honestly, that might be the general truth, but for the sake of film, talent, or simply thespian street cred, he should really invest some time in fully reading a script and going for a solidly written, undoubtably good movie next time. I say this because I don't want to be duped any longer. I want to leave his next movie with a sigh of relief, not just a flutter in my heart. I know he can do it, it just has to happen. Until then, I will continue to watch The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with a nostalgic tear in my eye.
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